Brennan & Rogers, PLLC

10/19/2026

What Happens If You Can’t Make Decisions for Yourself?

Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after death. It’s also about who can help if illness, injury, or another unexpected event leaves you unable to manage your affairs.

Important documents may include a Durable Financial Power of Attorney, an Advance Health Care Directive, and appropriate health information authorizations.

Without proper planning, loved ones may face delays, uncertainty, or court proceedings to obtain authority to act on your behalf.

Planning ahead helps make your wishes known and identifies the people you trust to carry them out.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with Brennan & Rogers, PLLC, or its attorneys. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and the information provided may not apply to your specific circumstances. Please consult a qualified attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.

10/18/2026

Estate Planning in 2026: What Are You Overlooking?

The purpose of Estate Planning Awareness Week is to spread awareness that estate planning is about more than deciding who inherits your belongings. It’s about preparing for the unexpected, protecting the people you love, and making your wishes known.

From updating beneficiary designations to planning for incapacity, small steps today can make a meaningful difference tomorrow.

You don’t need to be wealthy to need a plan. You need a plan that reflects your life, your priorities, and the people who matter most.

What is one estate planning task you’ve been meaning to address?

Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with Brennan & Rogers, PLLC, or its attorneys. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and the information provided may not apply to your specific circumstances. Please consult a qualified attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.

10/18/2026

Happy Birthday, Council!

10/16/2026

Understanding how we pay for long-term care versus citizens of other countries can help with planning for the future.

https://brennanrogers.com/2026/10/14/long-term-care-costs-the-u-s-versus-the-rest-of-the-world/

Most of us will need help with everyday tasks later in our lives, such as bathing, dressing, cooking, and getting around. How that help gets paid, however, depends on where in the world you are.

10/15/2026

📅 Medicare Open Enrollment is here!

From October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026, Medicare beneficiaries can review their coverage and make changes for the upcoming year.

Your health care needs, prescriptions, providers, and budget can change over time. Take this opportunity to compare your options and make sure your coverage continues to meet your needs.

✅ Review your current plan.
✅ Compare available coverage options.
✅ Check prescription drug coverage and provider networks.
✅ Ask questions before making a decision.

Need help navigating your options? These trusted resources can help:

🔗 Medicare.gov: https://www.medicare.gov/
Explore coverage options and find official Medicare information.

🤝 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): https://www.shiphelp.org/
Find free, personalized, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained counselors.

Your future. Your plan. Your peace of mind.

This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, insurance, or Medicare enrollment advice.

10/14/2026

The path to understanding Medicare begins with getting familiar with some of the basic terms that are often misunderstood.

https://brennanrogers.com/2026/10/14/understanding-medicare-is-more-complicated-than-many-realize/

Ask most people with Medicare whether they understand their coverage and the answer is usually yes. However, a new survey suggests that people’s knowledge of Medicare may fall short of their confidence.

10/12/2026

10/02/2026

"As the executive director of the York Community Service Association, Surdoval had helped establish the death cafe in York to provide a way for people to have conversations about death. While she first started attending the cafes as part of her job, Surdoval began finding the conversations personally helpful as her husband got older."

https://themainemonitor.org/death-cafes-helping-mainers/

Around Maine, people are gathering to talk about the kind of death they want for their loved ones and themselves.

10/01/2026

🍂 October is Estate Planning Awareness Month!

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone. It’s about being prepared for life’s transitions whenever they happen.

In 2026, that can mean thinking about:

❤️ Who can make decisions for you if you can’t?
🏡 What happens to your home and other assets?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Has your family changed?
🏥 How would long-term care affect your plans?
💻 What happens to your digital life and even your AI-generated content?
📋 Do your beneficiary designations still reflect your wishes?

You don’t have to be wealthy to need a plan. Estate planning is about people, choices, and being prepared.

This October, take a moment to ask yourself: “Does my estate plan still reflect the life I’m living today?” If the answer is “I’m not sure,” that may be a good place to start. 🍁

09/30/2026

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Intergenerational Month is a great reminder that estate planning isn’t just about what happens to your assets; it’s about the people you’re planning for.

Every generation has different needs, responsibilities, and hopes for the future. A thoughtful estate plan can help families:

💬 Start important conversations before there’s a crisis
📋 Make sure important documents and wishes are in place
🏡 Plan for the transfer of assets and property
❤️ Prepare for changing family circumstances
🧓 Support aging parents while preparing the next generation
👶 Protect and provide for children and grandchildren

Estate planning can be a way to connect generations today while preparing for tomorrow.

Your plan can be part of your family’s legacy, not just a stack of documents.

What conversations could your family start today?

This post is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every family’s circumstances are different.